Atmospheric Sciences & Global Change Newsmakers

Susannah Burrows' Biogenic Research Featured in Earth Magazine

Dr. Susannah Burrows, atmospheric scientist at Pacific Northwest
National Laboratory, authored a study published in the journal Science Advances, together with the
University of Washington, and was featured in the
November 2015 issue of Earth Magazine. The Earth article, "Marine Microorganisms Drive Summer Clouds Over
Southern Ocean," highlights the finding that gases and particles originating from phytoplankton, microorganisms that
live in the sea, are responsible for up to half of the droplets that produce
clouds over the Southern Ocean during the summer months.

Burrows'
research is focused on how tiny particles called aerosols interact with clouds
to affect climate. Her expertise in atmospheric diagnostics and modeling is
frequently called upon to study aerosols, especially those resulting from material produced by marine
organisms.

Researchers are continually working to include adequate measurements to better inform the
climate models. Studies such as Burrows' highlight how previously overlooked
contributors may affect the climate. These measurements will be vital for
informing climate models to improve that understanding.